Siblings’ top Rotary award

THE Rotary Club of Berwick has acknowledged the valuable contributions to Rotary by brother and sister Peter Castricum and Deb Giesen by recognising them as Paul Harris Fellows.
A Paul Harris Fellow is a Rotary International recognition. People with high levels of service to Rotary and the community are selected by the Rotary Club of Berwick to become Paul Harris Fellows.
Peter Castricum has been a member of the Rotary Clubs of Dandenong and Berwick for over 27 years. He was president of the Dandenong Club in 1994/95, has acted as the District Governor’s representative, and has completed multiple terms as treasurer.
Peter and his wife have hosted five foreign students on Rotary’s Youth Exchange Program and has been a generous benefactor to Rotary’s emergency relief projects.
Peter drove the formation of the South Eastern Food Bank during his term in the presidency.
While Deb Giesen never officially joined the Rotary, her contributions have been very significant throughout the years.
Deb is a regular at functions and fund-raisers, and her support for Rotary District 9820 Ride To Conference was very noteworthy.
Deb and husband Rotarian Alf Giesen have catered for the riders’ breakfasts, lunches and morning and afternoon teas for three successive years, by following the route of the riders.
Most of the food was donated by the Giesens, with Deb managing to prepare around 4000 meals to satisfy hungry riders without complaint and on a tiny budget.